The 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army has collaborated with the National Institute for Cultural Orientation in a bid to train its men in the mastery of the three major indigenous languages in the country.

The move, which was launched at the Brigade Command, Akure, the Ondo State capital, is geared towards enhancing the operational activities of soldiers in the fight against crime, particularly while relating with locals.

The programme, according to the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Zakari Logun Abubakar, will enable soldiers to be proficient in the three indigenous languages of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

According to a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Brigade, Victor Olukoya, “the Brigade has keyed into the policy directive of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, which is – all formations and units of the Nigerian Army are to commence teaching of the 3 major Nigerian languages to officers and soldiers.”

Olukoya further explained that the decision is due to the current engagement of Nigerian Army in various internal security operations which requires troops to effectively communicate with the locals to foster cordial civil-military cooperation and intelligence gathering.

Inaugurating the program, the commander 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Zakari Logun Abubakar stressed the importance of the programme to the personnel of the Brigade.

According to him, “proficiency in these languages will enhance the performance of personnel in the conduct of operations as it will improve their ability to communicate and integrate effectively with the local communities.”